The best thing about this year's challenge has been the team atmosphere. It has been so great to participate with others--adults and students--and to walk through this journey with each other. It is encouraging to share the highs and lows together, and to remember that regardless of how much money we raise, we are bringing awareness to new people in new places. And that is the ultimate goal of Dressember.
The Dressember World Changers team has grown exponentially. In its first year (2015) we had two members; last year we had four. This year our team has 21 members, all of whom are new to the team, except for me. As of publication, our team has raised over $3,600 from 73 different donations. If you are one of our donors, thank you so, so much for your contribution to Dressember!
On a personal level, this Dressember has felt both rewarding and challenging up to this point. I was able to speak to our youth group about Dressember, and loved seeing many of them sign up to participate. I started an artistic lettering challenge on social media to bring awareness and another level of participation to the campaign. And I've been blessed to have both new and repeat donors supporting my fundraiser.
It's always challenging to wear dresses all month, but this year I think my primary focus has been on other aspects, so my wardrobe has almost felt like an afterthought. I increased my fundraising goal to $2,000, which is an amount I have never raised in an individual campaign. Last year we got incredibly close, at $1,741. So that's an increase of only $259 over last year's total. I know it's reachable, but there is always a part of me that questions whether I'll make it. As I am writing this post, I have raised $889 so far. I would love to reach the $1,000 mark today, only $111 away, and I am hoping you will help me.
The biggest thing I have learned through participating in Dressember is that anyone can make a difference. When I first started doing Dressember in 2014, I was excited but uncertain. I didn't know if anyone would believe in the cause like I did, or if anyone would want to give their hard-earned money to it. At the end of that first campaign, thanks to the generosity of friends and family, I reached my goal. I felt so empowered, like I could take on anything and conquer it.
When you give to Dressember, your donation goes far beyond empowering me. It goes toward justice, toward freedom, toward the fight for human rights and dignity. When you give to Dressember, you can know deep down in your soul that you have contributed to something that is bigger than all of us. And when people ask what you are doing to make the world a better place, you can point to Dressember and say, "This. This is what I have done."
It truly takes a community to make a change. You are my community, and today I am asking you to stand with me to make a global change. Will you give what you can to help the fight for justice? Will you lend what you have to a war that is being waged in our own back yards? Will you speak where others have fallen silent? Will you give to Dressember?
Thank you, my friends, for your continual love and support. It does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. You inspire me and so many others in the ways you continually show up and care. To borrow from Dr. Seuss, "To the world you may be one person, but to me, you mean the world."
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